System and method for integrating a fiber optic fixed access network and a fiber optic radio access network

Abstract

A system and method are described for integrating a fiber optic fixed access network and a fiber optic radio access network. At least one radio unit transmits and receives communications with at least one mobile unit. A first multiplexer transmits and receives the communications with the at least one radio unit and fixed access communications with at least one fixed access subscriber. The first multiplexer is connected to each of the at least one radio unit and to each of the at least one fixed access subscriber using fiber optic connections. Each of the at least one radio unit transmits and receives the communications with the first multiplexer using a wavelength that is different for each of the at least one radio unit and different from that used to transmit and receive the fixed access communications from the at least one fixed access subscriber. The communications and the fixed access communications are transmitted and received together between the first multiplexer and a second multiplexer through the fiber optic fixed access network using the different wavelengths.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to fiber optic networks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for integrating a fiber optic fixed access network and a fiber optic radio access network.[0003]2. Background Information[0004]Fiber optics have been used extensively in transport networks over the last ten to fifteen years and in fixed access networks over the last several years. With the foreseen and on-going deployment of fiber optics in fixed access networks, such as fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), fiber-to-the-building (FTTB), and fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC), a vast amount of fiber optics have been and will be installed in these fixed access networks. These fixed access networks will, in many cases, be Ethernet-based, providing best effort Ethernet services to customers.[0005]Parallel to this deployment, development of future generation mobile networks with smaller and smaller cell radii will be installed. Cellular ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a system and method that combines a fiber optic fixed access network and a fiber optic radio access network. The system uses a first multiplexer to transmit and receive communications between a radio unit and a fixed access subscriber using different wavelengths. The radio unit also transmits and receives communications with a mobile unit using the same wavelengths as the fixed access communications. The first multiplexer converts the communications with the radio unit into different wavelengths for transmission and reception with the fixed access network. This allows the system to transmit and receive both communications simultaneously using the same fiber optic network. The technical effect of this invention is the efficient and reliable transmission of both fixed and mobile communications over a single network using a single wavelength.

Problems solved by technology

The primary problem with a fiber optic access network is the enormous cost of installing the fiber optic infrastructure itself, including trenching, opening-up streets, negotiating right-of-way, and so forth.

The FTTA link interface is generally not suitable to run using Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy (PDH), Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH), or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) transmission protocols.

Radio access networks and fiber-based fixed access networks are currently built as two separate networks, but installing a fiber optic network solely for FTTA is usually not cost effective.

Ethernet switches currently lack the performance necessary for radio applications.

The different synchronization and delay properties of radio communications traffic and Ethernet communications traffic will make it difficult to host both types of traffic in the same type of fiber optic network.

As a result, it is not possible to run time-sensitive radio communications traffic on a standard best-effort-type network.

Images